Exodus 14 - The Lord opens and closes the sea

The Lord directs the Israelites and has them near the Red Sea causing them to appear as if they could be easily trapped and captured. At the same time He causes the Pharaoh to have a change of heart and think about the slaves being freed and his loss of free labor. Suddenly the Pharaoh assembles his armies and his chariots to go after the Israelites.

Can you imagine the Egyptians, who have had free slave labor all their lives suddenly realizing that they need to perform the tasks they are accustomed to having done for them? They are in hot pursuit and look ahead to see the Israelites within grasp.

The Israelites see the armies closing in on them and cry out to God and Moses asking if they have been brought this far to die in the desert. Moses turned to them and told them to stand their ground and they would witness their God destroy their enemies before them. Then God said to Moses lift up your staff and lift it before the sea. Tell the children to pass and I will protect them. Pharaoh's armies along with Pharaoh were closing in on them and God closed the sea upon them! Not one Egyptian survived. Not one Israelite was hurt! When the Israelites saw them all lying dead it renewed their faith as they feared God and Moses. 

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Genesis 13 - God led them by fire

The Lord instructed the Israelites to consecrate the firstborns "of man and beasts for it belongs to me."

Joseph had asked that they vow to take his bones with  them when they journeyed to the promise lands so his bones were with them. They were led by cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night as they headed to the red sea on their journey to the their first passover celebration.

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Genesis 12 - The Passover Rituals Explained

The rituals of the first passover feast were explained to God's children.

When the Pharaoh's household woke in the middle of the night they found their firstborn dead and so did every other Egyptian families. There was a loud wailing throughout all of Egypt and the Pharaoh, though already warned of this, summoned Moses and Aaron, this time pleading with them to please go and take everything with them, their children, their flocks... Just go!

The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked their neighbors for jewelery and clothes. The Lord had made them behave favorably to the Israelites and many valuable items were offered and taken. About 600,000 men (not counting children) began the journey. This had been the families of Abraham which accumulated since. They stay it Israel since Joseph, had been 430 years.

Then the Lord explained to His children the regulations they needed to keep the passover.

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Exodus 11 - The Worst Plague

The tenth and worst plague - Death of the firstborn

The Lord told Moses to instruct every Israelite to ask their (Egyptian) neighbor for silver, gold and clothing. Moses was held in high esteem by the servants and other Egyptians. Then he advised them that at midnight the Lord would go through Egypt and every firstborn would be slain, human and animal alike. He told them that not even a dog would growl to warn them, but there would be loud wailing throughout the land and the Pharaoh would send the people on their way, but God made the Pharaoh stubborn one more time so that his power could be demonstrated and the people would learn that there is but one true God; the God of the Israelites.

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Exodus 10 - Two More plagues and Moses is Threatened

The eighth plague - locusts.

The Pharaoh is continuing to be stubborn while Egypt is destroyed with each plague being worse than the previous one. The Lord told Moses that he would continue to make the Pharaoh stubborn so that once he let the people go he would have a greater respect for God and so that the Israelites could tell their children and their grandchildren about these days.

Aaron and Moses approached the Pharaoh telling him that if he continue to be stubborn and refuse to let them go into the desert to worship their God he would invade their land with a plague of locusts like they had never before seen and it would eat all of the vegetation left in Egypt. The servants plead with the Pharaoh to please let the people go before there was no more Egypt, so he summoned back Moses and Aaron back and the Pharaoh tried to bargain with them that only the men go, no cattle, no children, and not their families.

The Lord told Moses to stretch forth his hand so that the locusts could destroy whatever the hail had not and everywhere became covered with locusts. There was nothing green left on the land. The Pharaoh sent quickly for Moses and Aaron confessing that he had sinned and begging for Moses to pray on his behalf. The moment Moses prayed and the Lord removed the locusts, the Pharaoh was again adamant refusing to let the Israelites go.

The ninth plague - darkness.

God told Moses to stretch forth his hand and the land of Egypt "may be such intense darkness that one can feel it." Egypt was enveloped in complete and total darkness for 3 days but the Israelites had light as normal. The Pharaoh told them they could go but without their flocks and herds and Moses told him that they needed their herds to present a sacrifice. The Pharaoh threatened Moses with death if he ever appeared in front of him again and Moses replied "Well said! I will never appear before you again!"  This is taken from The New American Bible.

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Exodus 9 - 3 More Plagues and Pharaoh Remains Stubborn

The Pestilence

The Lord told Moses that he would strike  the livestock of the Egyptians dead tomorrow but not one of the Israelites so that Pharaoh could see that there was no mistake.The Pharaoh still persisted in his stubborness and refused to let the Israelites going wanting to keep them as slaves.

Then came the 6th plague - Boils.

The Lord told Aaron and Moses to take a double handfull of soot from the furnace and to do this in the presence of the Pharaoh so that he could see that it was from God. Moses scattered it towards the sky. It caused boils and open sores to rise up on the skin of all the Egyptians, even on the sorcerers. Each time that God predicted that the Pharaoh would be stubborn, it was so. He still refused to let the people go.

The 7th Plague - Hail

Moses told the Pharaoh that his God was a just God and could have struck him dead at any time but he was sending him these plagues that he might understand the power of God. He warned him to bring  man and beast in from outside as he was going to rain down hail like they had never seen before. The hail was accompanied by lighting and thunder and splintered mighty trees and destroyed crops. It did not strike the Israelites that lived in Goshen.

The Pharaoh summons Moses

He confesses that he is the one who has sinned and that God is a just God. He asked that Moses please take the Israelites and go but to pray for him as he leaves that the plague would be lifted, but the moment that the hail stopped, the Pharaoh blocked the Israelites and stopped them from leaving. This was not a surprise to God as He foretold it to Moses, advising him that the Pharaoh would be very stubborn in letting the slaves go.

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Exodus 8 - The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Plagues

The Lord told Moses to instruct Aaron to stretch out his staff over the waterways, streams, and pools that frogs may overrun the land. Once the frogs were in an abundance everywhere, the Pharaoh summoned his magicians and sorcerers who also created frogs. Then he requested Moses to please pray that they would be removed and he would let the people go. The Pharaoh and Moses set up an appointed time the next day and the Lord removed the frogs from everywhere but the rivers.

Once they were removed the Pharaoh became stubborn again. God told Moses to have Aaron strike the dust and bring forth gnats to cover all man and beast. The sorcerers told the Pharaoh that this was truly the hand of God as they could do nothing against this plague. Then the Lord sent another plague, but this one was different. Swarms of flies landed on everything belonging to the Egyptians, except in Goshen where the Israelites resided. This was as God said to show that it from God and he was not sending a plague on His people.

The Pharaoh summoned Aaron and Moses asking them to go and offer sacrifice to their God and to pray for him. He gave them one stipulation however, and that was that they were not to go to far away. Moses prayed for the Pharaoh and the plagues were removed but the Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the people go.

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Exodus 7 - Moses and Aaron Speak to the Pharaoh

God reminds Moses of the roles he and Aaron are playing. He told Moses that he was as a god and Aaron as a prophet and they were to approach the Pharaoh. Because of the horrendous things the Pharaoh had done to God's chosen children, he would pay. God would harden his heart making him to be stubborn so that God could demonstrate to him the power that is His. The Egyptians would learn to fear and honor God.

 Moses was  80 and Aaron 83 when they and their families approached the Pharaoh. They turned the staff into a serpent, and the Pharaoh summoned sorcerers who did the same, but Aaron's staff swallowed their staffs.

Then Aaron came and struck the water supplies with his staff in full view of the Pharaoh telling him that God was turning his waters into blood because he had refused to let the people go. They lost all their sea food and had no clean water to drink. Then the Lord told Moses to wait a week and then strike Pharaoh with a plague of frogs. There were swarms of them everywhere.

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Exodus 6 - The Israelites Refuse to Listen

God responded to Moses.

"Now you shall see what I will do to the Pharaoh. Forced by my mighty hand, he will send them away..."

The Lord told Moses to tell the Israelites that He will free them from their slavery and give them the land which he promised to their forefathers. 

When Moses told the Israelites they doubted him. They had been so accustomed to their oppression that they feared to believe they could escape it. Moses told God, they will not listen to me so how can I expect the Pharaoh to as I am so poor at speech? Then the Lord God instructed both Aaron and Moses with the words to use but Moses continues to protest more.

This chapter also  provides us with details of lineage.

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Exodus 5 - the Pharaoh is Even More Heartless

Moses and Aaron visited the Pharaoh with God's message to him advising him to let the people go into the desert and celebrate a feast in honor of God or they may suffer pestilence or the sword.

The Pharaoh was quite upset with the request stating that their God  meant little to him so he gave orders to the foremen to no longer provide them with straw to make their brick but to order them to find their own and still make as many bricks as before. The foremen pleaded with the Pharaoh telling him that the workers were already overworked and the Pharaoh would not budge, so then they cried to Aaron and Moses. Moses then accused God of having placed His people into a worse plight than they were already in.

 
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Exodus 4 - Moses Becomes Acclimated to God's Mission

Moses is still filled with self doubt and continues to offer objections to God's plans as he outlines them for him. He worries that no one will believe him when he tells them he is taking them away from their bondage. He worries that his speech is inadequate. Even after God makes his staff magical, he worries that the signs and miracles will not be enough.

The Lord is becoming impatient with Moses

"Who gives one man speech and another deaf and dumb? Or who gives sight to one and makes another blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Go then! It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what to say."

Even then Moses insisted that God send another at which time the Lord became angry with him and reminded him that his brother Aaron was an eloquent speaker and he would assign him to be the spokesperson.  Even after all this pleading and God's display of various miracles, Moses was still hesitant but nonetheless going. He stopped at his father in law Jethro's and advised him that he needed to head back to Egypt and check on his kinsmen. God had advised him that those who sought his death were no longer alive so he was safe so he traveled with his wife and sons.

God instructed him that the Pharaoh would be hard hear-ted but he should tell him that Israel was God's firstborn and if the Pharaoh did not let the Israelites go he would lose his own firstborn. The Bible tells us in chapter 4 verse 24 that God would have killed Moses during the night but Zipporah circumcised their son, touched him and said "You are a spouse of blood to me." and God let Moses go.

The Lord visited Aaron telling him to go and meet Moses. When they met at the mountain of God, Aaron greeted his brother with a kiss. Moses filled him in and they left to assemble the elders. When they heard how concerned and touched the Lord was regarding their oppression, they bowed and worshiped him.



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Exodus 3 - Moses Sees the Burning Bush

 

Moses was out tending the flock for his new father in-law a priest of Midian. As he approached the Mountain of God, Horeb, he noted an angel in a burning bush. Curiosity got the better of him and he approached for a closer look. He could not understand how the bush was burning but not consumed. The voice of God rang out from the bush "Moses! Moses!" Moses answered "Here I am." and was instructed to remove his sandals as he was standing on holy ground. God then told him that he was the God of his descendants naming Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then Moses became fearful and hid his face, but God continued to tell him how he had heard his children cry out and had come to deliver them from their oppression with the help of  Moses. Moses kept doubting his ability to carry out God's plan and came up with excuses. God continued laying out His plan and advised Moses to speak to the elders of Israelites about what God had told him.

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Exodus 2 - Moses is Adopted

 
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A certain man in the house of Levi married a Levite woman. They had a healthy son and she was successful in keeping him hidden for three months but then fearful for his life she placed him in a basket which she had made waterproof with pitch. His oldest sister kept a careful eye from a distance. The Pharaoh's daughter spotted the baby and heard him cry. She was moved to pity and the baby's sister then approached asking if she would like a Hebrew woman to nurse him. The daughter agreed and said she would repay the kindness, so the sister of Moses ran to get their mother. The Pharaoh's daughter named him Moses meaning drawn from the water.

After Moses had grown and was educated in the palace, he was traveling one day in Midian and witnessed one of his kinsmen being oppressed and assaulted. He killed the oppressor and hid him in the sand. The following day he say two of his kinsmen fighting against one another and reprimanded them. One asked if he would kill them as he had the other man. He then became fearful that others must know and actually the Pharaoh did know and was looking for him to put him to death. He decided to stay in Midian and not return to the palace.

In the land of Midian he was seated by the well when 7 daughters were trying to water their father's flock when some shepherds gave them a hard time. He helped them and watered their flock for them. That night they returned earlier than normal and their father asked them why so they told him and he asked them to bring the man home. He invited Moses to live with them and to wed his daughter Zipporah. She bore him a son.

The Israelites prayed daily for relief from their oppression  and though the current king died the next one was no better.


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Exodus 1 - The Oppression of Jacob's Family

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Joseph and his family had all passed away but their descendants were strong and had multiplied until they filled the lands. Pharaoh had also passed away and was replaced by a new king who knew nothing of the previous relationship that Pharaoh had had with Joseph and his family. He was in fear of the family of Israelites as they were mighty, strong and many. He told his consorts that if these people chose to join with their enemy and fight them they would have trouble so he decided to deal with the shrewdly. 

They assigned them hard labor of working in mortar, brick and the fields, which just caused them to become stronger. He also ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all of their male offspring at birth, but they disobeyed as they were more afraid of God than of the Pharaoh. When the Pharaoh summoned them to find out why the baby boys had survived they told him that the Israelite women were robust and birthed their babies without help.

Because God favored the midwives obedience he blessed them and their families and he also blessed the children of Israel. So then Pharaoh ordered the Hebrews to kill all the male children of the Israelites.

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Genesis 50 - Jacob's funeral

 

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Joseph, distraught, threw himself upon his father kissing him and crying over him. He then had him embalmed and spent 40 days in mourning. Then he sent a message to Pharaoh via his courtier requesting permission to fulfill his promise to his father and bury him in Canaan. He took with him some of Pharaoh's dignitaries along with his family.

His brothers were in fear for their lives now that their father was no longer alive. They thought Joseph would seek revenge but Joseph reassured them that though they meant him harm, God had planned it for the good of the world. His brothers bowed low and offered to be his slaves. He comforted them speaking kindly and telling them he would see to it that they and their children would be cared for. 

He lived to be 110 and was embalmed and  buried in Egypt.

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Genesis 41 - Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream

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A period of two years went by and the Pharaoh had been troubled by dreams. He summoned all the sages and magicians in Egypt to interpret them but they were unable  to interpret the dreams and were, in fact as perplexed as the Pharaoh. It was than that the chief cup bearer remembered his interaction with Joseph and his promise to him, so he related to the Pharaoh what had taken place while he was in jail. The Pharaoh immediately summoned Joseph, who washed up and changed his clothes to have an audience with the Pharaoh.

The dreams foretold of the 7 years of  plenty then 7 years of famine and Joseph advised the Pharaoh that his dream was from God and the message given to him to deliver to the Pharaoh so that he might seek a wise and discerning man to oversee the crops for these years or the earth would perish from starvation. The Pharaoh thought who better could I choose than this young man so he appointed him over food supply and gave him authority to do anything needed to see that the kingdom did not perish.

As a sign he took off his signet ring and placed it on Joseph's finger, a necklace on his neck and gave him fine linens. He also gave him a wife and changed his name to Zaphnath-paneah. Before the famine set in Joseph's wife, Arsenath bore him two sons; Manasseh and Ephraim.

Joseph began to store the grains and harvests in areas near each town and traveled the lands overseeing this. In eighth year people traveled from all over the country to purchase provisions from Joseph.

Note: I am truly sorry. I do not know what happened to this post which I had made in sequence, as I wanted the entire Bible written in sesequence, but today I noticed that not only was it in scheduled draft, it was incomplete!

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Genesis 49 - Jacob reads his last will and testament

After blessing both his grandsons, the sons of Joseph, he rounded up his sons and either stood or sat up in his bed, this in not clear, but the closing verse tells us that he placed his feet in his bed, laid down and took his last breath, so we know he drew his family to his bed to make this speech.

The speech is quite eloquent and poetic. He tells each of his heirs what it is that sets them apart from one another and what God has in store for them. Then he reminds them that their grandfather, grandmother, Isaac, Rebekkah and his wives were buried in the cave purchased from the Hittites and this must be his final resting place also.

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Genesis 47 & 48 - Jacob meets his grandsons

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First of all, I feel the need to apologize as I had ever intention of posting yesterday's chapter early Saturday morning. Friday I came in from work exhausted, but Saturday when I awoke hubby called me and asked me to meet him in town. Then I got a couple more calls from friends and family and ended up not even going online until late. It is now 2:36 am on Sunday, but I have good news, baby boy, Chris officially proposed and put an engagement ring on his fiance Mari's finger. We are so happy for both of them. 

At the last reading the interpretation was not quite the same as The New American Bible  but this translation advises that Joseph's family were shepherds while the Egyptians tended flocks. Joseph had advised his family if questioned by Pharaoh to state that their occupation was keepers of livestock and to offer their servitude to Pharaoh. 

Joseph met with Pharaoh and advised him that his family was in the land of Goshen with all that they owned including their flocks and herds but when questioned by Pharaoh they did tell him that they were shepherds. They were offered any land that they wished to settle in and Pharaoh asked Joseph if he would recommend one of his brothers to tend his flock for him. His family was given their pick of the land in Rameses.

Joseph was in charge of the granaries and all the food and provisions and was to sell it as he saw fit. As people ran out of money they would trade cattle, then land and finally themselves so as not to starve. But once the famine was over, Joseph gave them seed with the understanding that 1/5 of their crop was to revert to Pharaoh. The rest they could keep. None of this effected the priests as they were given an allowance. 

Jacob made Joseph promise that he would take him back to his homeland when he passed away and bury him there. 

Chapter 48

Jacob meets his grandsons and blesses them. He told Joseph that he accepted Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim as his own, and all other children that Joseph had afterwards would be his (Joseph's) own. As he blessed the two boys he advised that the younger one would surpass the older, which was a parallel to his and his own twin's blessings. Joseph tried to correct his father, but his father admonished him. Jacob told him that they will be the father's of 12 tribes.

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Genesis 46 - Jacob's family of 66 migrate to Egypt

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It took Jacob (Israel) several minutes to register the idea that his son was alive. Remember how long it took his brothers to realize and they saw him in the flesh! Once he did he was so eager to see him. He had had only two sons by the woman he truly loved, Rachel, the woman he worked 14 long years for his uncle for. He stated that the years were short as he loved her so much but let us get back to the chapter.

First, Jacob was a man of God and before he started on his journey he stopped to offer prayer and offering to God at Beersheba. God reassured him before his trip and promised blessings to him and his family. Genesis 46 lists the 66 family members that traveled to Egypt. This did not include his son's wives, or Joseph's two sons. All total it was 70.

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